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December 2015 saw the continuation of visits to the offices of local state senator offices by musicians to speak in favor of AB 1199, legislation that has the potential to bring thousands of music scoring jobs back to California.

The bill is currently in the Senate Governance & Finance Committee and will be picked up again in early 2016. Musicians are utilizing this time to gear up for visits to local state senate offices to voice their support of this important bill.

On Dec. 16 members met with Nathaniel Serslev, District Director for Sen. Janet Nguyen, in Garden Grove. Just before the Christmas holiday on the morning of Dec. 23, musicians visited the office of Sen. Mike Morrell to speak with District Director Nick Calero in Rancho Cucamonga.

California Democratic Party passes resolution to broaden state’s film & TV tax incentives to support music employment

In support of local musicians seeking to grow music scoring work in the state, the California Democratic Party’s Executive Board adopted a resolution Aug. 16, 2015 in favor of broadening the Film & TV Tax Incentive Program to support and increase music jobs.

The resolution was put forward by Local 47 member and activist Clifford Tasner, who serves as a delegate to the California Democratic Convention, and 25 DSCC members. It speaks to the merits of AB 1199, a bill aimed at improving the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program to bring more music scoring work to the state. Continue reading →

On Monday morning, musicians in Los Angeles visited the office of state Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) in support of AB 1199, a bill aimed at creating more film & TV music jobs in California.

AB 1199 is now in the Senate Governance & Finance Committee and will be picked up again in January. Musicians are utilizing this time to gear up for visits to local state senate offices to voice their support of this important bill.

Several more visits in other districts are in the works up and down the state. Many Los Angeles Local 47 members have already heard from Local 47 Organizer Merideth Cleary – and if you haven’t yet, you will soon!

To learn more about this important work, visit our AB 1199 blog. If you’d like to get involved, sign up for Local 47 Action Alerts or call Merideth at 323.993.3143 to stay posted to future developments on this and other news that affects California musicians.

Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) has signed on as co-author with Assemblymember Adrin Nazarin (D-Sherman Oaks) to AB 1199, a bill with the potential to bring thousands of music scoring jobs back to California.

Musicians have been busy pushing to add language to the legislation that will secure a revenue-neutral allocation for music scoring from the existing Film & TV Tax Credit Program. Because no new money is being asked for, this effort has been gaining fast support.

On June 18, KPCC’s John Horn and Rabert Garrova spoke with entertainment lawyer and Hollywood Reporter journalist Jonathan Handel on Southern California Public Radio program “The Frame” about the current state of film scoring work in California. Handel discusses AFM Local 47’s efforts to amend the Film & TV Tax Credit Program to bring more music jobs to the state with AB 1199:

Interview Highlights

What is runaway composing?

“What the musicians union has been hearing — or feeling the pinch of — is that a lot of scoring of movies, and some TV shows as well, I think, has moved overseas. And that means a loss of jobs here in Los Angeles.”

So what are the musicians trying to do?

“Well the musicians are trying to bring work back to the U.S., and they’re doing it in two ways. One is that the parent union, the American Federation of Musicians, has filed lawsuits against multiple studios alleging that they are in breach of contract on the collective bargaining agreements, the union agreements. Because of the fact that they’ve been scoring overseas, and also they say that they’ve been reusing existing music excessively in violation of contract.

“The other prong is that Local 47, the Los Angeles local of that union, has introduced a bill in the Assembly — and it passed the Assembly, it’s moved to the Senate — that would increase tax incentives for producers if they score in California.”

This bill (AB 1199) was authored by a Democratic assemblyman from Van Nuys, Adrin Nazarian. What is the status of the bill, and what are its chances?

“Well it passed the Assembly, and now it moves to the Senate, where my understanding is that it’s going to face a somewhat tougher row perhaps. But the bill is revenue neutral — it does not increase the total amount of California tax incentives. So given that fact, it doesn’t affect the overall budget, and there may be a shot at passage.”

We thank AFSCME for joining our growing list of AB 1199 supporters, which now includes UTLA, UFCW Local 770, The Recording Academy Los Angeles and San Francisco chapters, Society of Composers & Lyricists, American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers, Professional Musicians of California (AFM Locals CA Conference), and over 365 petition signers.

UTLA endorses AB 1199 to improve CA Film/Tax Program for musicians; bill now heads to the Senate

United Teachers Los Angeles is the latest organization to join musicians in supporting AB 1199, a bill aimed at strengthening the Film/TV Tax Credit Program as it relates to music scoring work done in California.

Today the teachers union adds its name to a growing list of AB 1199 supporters including The Recording Academy Los Angeles and San Francisco chapters, UFCW Local 770, Society of Composers & Lyricists, American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers, Professional Musicians of California (AFM Locals CA Conference), and over 350 petition signers.

The bill soared soared through the California State Assembly this week, where it landed bi-partisan approval to move on to the Senate. It is here where musicians hope its language will be further amended to create a carve-out for scoring work for motion pictures and television in the state.

The political committee led by Local 47 rank-and-file members along with titled officers says that while these successes are encouraging, the real work has only just begun. In order to keep momentum moving forward on this legislation, musicians are forming the California Music Alliance, a new coalition of music organizations, labor and community groups, and individuals who want to see more music work come to the state.

Great news, AB 1199 supporters! This week the bill soared unanimously through the California State Assembly, landing bi-partisan approval to move on to the Senate.

While this is an exciting success, our real work is now ahead of us. We need to ensure further amendments are made to the language to achieve a carve-out for scoring work for motion pictures and television in the state.

SACRAMENTO, CA (May 18, 2015) — Today members of the American Federation of Musicians from Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco hosted a live musical performance and press conference outside the state capitol in support of AB 1199, a bill proposing changes to the Film & Television Tax Credit Program they say will bring more music work to the state. Continue reading →